Glory Hymn of Matins of Holy Tuesday Ἰδού σοι τὸ τάλαντον ὁ Δεσπότης ἐμπιστεύει ψυχή μου· φόβῳ δέξαι τὸ χάρισμα, δάνεισαι τῷ δεδωκότι, διάδος πτωχοῖς, καὶ κτῆσαι φίλον τὸν Κύριον· ἵνα στῇς ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ, ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐν δόξῃ, καὶ ἀκούσῃς μακαρίας φωνῆς· Εἴσελθε, δοῦλε, εἰς τὴν χαρὰν τοῦ Κυρίου σου. Αὐτῆς ἀξίωσόν με, Σωτήρ, τὸν πλανηθέντα, διὰ τὸ μέγα σου ἔλεος. Behold, my soul, how the Master has entrusted the talent to you. With fear accept the gift of God. Borrow it from the One who gave it; distribute to the poor, and earn the Lord’s friendship; so that [...]

Lenten Hymn of Great Compline   Μεθ' ἡμῶν ὁ Θεός, γνῶτε ἔθνη καὶ ἡττᾶσθε. Ὅτι μεθ' ἡμῶν ὁ Θεός. God is with us, learn you nations and be defeated, for God is with us.   In our Church’s daily Services cycle the Compline service is performed after supper, hence the name Απόδειπνο. There are Small and Great versions of this service. The Great Compline is performed in Monasteries and Parishes alike, from Monday to Thursday of each week of Great Lent and this hymn, “God is with us” is chanted during the service. This ancient hymn is derived from verses [...]

Matins Hymn of Theophany (6th January)   Ἐξαποστειλάριον τῆς Ἐορτῆς (Ἦχος γ') Ἐπεφάνη ὁ Σωτήρ, ἡ χάρις ἡ ἀλήθεια, ἐν ῥείθροις τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, καὶ τοὺς ἐν σκότει καὶ σκιᾷ, καθεύδοντας ἐφώτισε• καὶ γὰρ ἦλθεν ἐφάνη, τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀπρόσιτον. The Saviour who is grace and truth, appeared in the streams of the Jordan, and illumined those sleeping in darkness and shadow, and came now and shone, the unapproachable light.   It is not by chance that this Feast-day of Our Lord, the Feast of Theophany, is called the Festival of Lights. St John the Evangelist in his first Epistle is [...]

Hymn to the Theotokos   Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία, πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε, μὴ παρίδῃς, ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι· Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε. Protection of Christians that can never be put to shame, steadfast intercession to the Creator, we sinners beg you, do not overlook the voices of our prayers. But O good Lady, we implore you, quickly come unto our aid, we who are crying out to you with faith. Hurry to intercession, and hasten to supplication, [...]

Hymn to the Theotokos   Την Ωραιότητα της Παρθενίας Σου Θεοτοκίον Ἦχος γ' Τὴν ὡραιότητα τῆς παρθενίας σου, καὶ τὸ ὑπέρλαμπρον τὸ τῆς ἁγνείας σου, ὁ Γαβριὴλ καταπλαγείς ἐβόα σοι Θεοτόκε, Ποῖόν σοι ἐγκώμιον προσαγάγω ἐπάξιον; τί δὲ ὀνομάσω σε; ἀπορῶ καὶ ἐξίσταμαι· διὸ ὡς προσετάγην βοῶ σοι, Χαῖρε ἡ Κεχαριτωμένη. Awed by the beauty of your virginity and by the brilliance of your purity, Gabriel cried aloud to you, O Mother of God, “How can I praise you as I should? With what name shall I call you? I am at a loss and amazed; therefore as I was [...]